See why Nashville sits among 'Best of the Best' of Tripadvisor's U.S. food destinations
Even in an honor reserved for food, Nashville's music scene gets top billing.
That's the case with Nashville's latest placement among Tripadvisor's "Traveler's Choice Best of the Best Destinations," where we've found ourselves listed among the top 10 dining destinations in the US.
"From honky-tonk bands jamming at Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge to songwriters in the round at the Bluebird Cafe and country music legends rocking the Grand Ole Opry, you never know who you might see," Tripadvisor's editors wrote. "The creative spirit from Nashville's music landscape flows into the area's myriad art galleries, up-and-coming fashion scene, historic landmarks and chef-driven restaurants."
It's no wonder, of course, with so many grand auditoriums and tucked-away neighborhood spots in which to catch a show.
Those vaunted venues now rub elbows with a restaurant scene that's a bit removed from the days when greasy spoons and meat-and-threes dominated the culinary landscape ― not, to be sure, that there's anything wrong with that.
But even as we lament our lost favorites, it's hard not to take pride in our place on the list: No. 6, beating out Miami Beach, Boston, Asheville and San Diego.
More: The top 25 restaurants in Nashville in 2023
Though Tripadvisor's writers drop scant information about which establishments landed Nashville on that list, it's no secret to those of us who live, work and play in the city. We have a generous amount of James Beard Award nods to our credit, more than a few nationally lauded dining destinations and, plainly, a whole lot of great places to eat.
More: A guide to Nashville's James Beard-nominated chefs and restaurants
According to Tripadvisor, Travelers’ Choice Awards Best of the Best winners are destinations with hotels, restaurants and things to do that received heaps of what they called "above-and-beyond reviews and opinions" from website users over a year's time.
Fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are awarded Best of the Best which, they said, signified the highest level of excellence in travel.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville dining: Why Tripadvisor ranks it among 'Best of the Best'
